A lady's maid is a female personal attendant who waits on the lady of the house. The position is very similar to a gentleman's valet, who was the gentleman's version of the lady's maid and was (if the gentleman's personal assistant WAS female) be called the gentleman's maid. The lady's maid was not as high-ranking as a lady's companion, who is a retainer rather than a servant. The position is rare today and the few women who still perform this role often use the term dresser instead. A lady is a woman who is the counterpart of a lord; or, the counterpart of a gentleman. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis, belonging to a race or gens, and man, cognate with the French word gentilhomme, the Spanish gentilhombre and the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of good family, the Latin generosus (its invariable translation in English... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A ladys companion was a woman of genteel birth who acted as a paid companion for women of rank or wealth. ... A retinue (O. Fr. ... A servant is a person who is hired to provide regular household or other duties, and receives compensation. ...
Traditionally, a lady's maid was expected to maintain her lady's wardrobe and accessories and be an expert needlewoman and hairdresser as well. The mistress usually addressed her personal attendant by her last name; today she is more like to be called by her first name.
The position was demanding and the hours could be long; some ladies expected their maids to wait up for them if they were out, for example, but the rewards included room and board, travel and somewhat improved social status; the lady's maid was addressed as Miss Last Name by junior servants or when visiting in another servants' hall. In the servant's hall, a lady's maid took precedence akin to that of her mistress. The Servants Hall is a common room for domestic workers in a great house. ... An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of people; it is used by many organizations and governments. ...
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